Worcester, MA --- Framingham State senior Kayla Austin (Winchester, MA) potted the decisive marker on a penalty kick in the 59th minute as the Rams scored three unanswered goals – including two in the second half – to knock off Worcester State, 3-2, in MASCAC women's soccer action this morning at Coughlin Field.
The Lancers (4-4, 1-1 MASCAC) jumped out to the early 1-0 lead when third-year Alyssa Sawyer (W. Springfield, MA) sent a cross from the right side of the net that was misplayed by the FSU keeper and found senior Kelsey Cartwright (Bridgewater, MA) in front, who deposited it into the empty net at the 7:15 mark.
The Blue and Gold continued their early success and grabbed the two-goal advantage when senior Brittany Rotatori (Auburn, MA) sent the ball up the middle to find sophomore Alicia Macomber (Stoughton, MA) who used her speed to blow past a defender and beat the keeper left side for her team-leading fourth goal of the campaign in the 29th minute.
The Rams (6-1-1, 1-0-1 MASCAC) were finally able to get on the board in the 42nd minute when junior Marisa Parent (Revere, MA) won the scramble for a loose ball in front of the net and fired it top left for the 2-1 score heading into the intermission.
Framingham State used the momentum to take the lead as they potted a pair of consecutive goals over two and a half minutes of play early in the second half.
Third-year Isabela DeSouza (Framingham, MA) took a great feed from senior Mary Brinkmann (Bridgewater, MA) on the left side and was able to beat a defender with some nifty footwork and rip a shot into the left side of the net for the equalizer at 56:36.
Austin was then able to capitalize on a foul on the left side of the box and convert her penalty kick at 58:52 for the 3-2 edge.
The Lancers had a great chance to pull even in the 78th minute when junior Shelby Archer (Unionville, CT) took the ball up the right side weaving through defenders, but her shot was snatched by sophomore net minder Sara Sullivan (Quincy, MA) to preserve the lead for FSU.
Sullivan recorded nine stops for the Rams while WSU second-year keeper Jillian Witkowski (Leicester, MA) grabbed five balls in the defeat.
Worcester State outshot their opponents, 18-14, for the game as Framingham State doubled up the Lancers in corner kicks, 4-2.
The Blue and Gold return to action Wednesday night when they host Western Connecticut State at 7 PM and FSU takes a week off before they host Salem State next Saturday at 2 PM.
Story By John Hanna --- Sports Information Graduate Assistant
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